Science and Human Freedom
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Published:22nd Jan '21
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book argues for two claims: firstly, determinism in science does not infringe upon human free will because it is descriptive, not prescriptive, and secondly, the very formulation, testing and justification of scientific theories presupposes human free will and thereby persons as ontologically primitive. The argument against predetermination is broadly Humean, or more precisely ‘Super-Humean’, whereas that against naturalist reduction is in large Kantian, drawing from Sellars on the scientific and the manifest image. Thus, whilst the book defends scientific realism against the confusion between fact and fake, it also reveals why scientific theories, laws and explanations cannot succeed in imposing norms for our actions upon us, neither on the level of the individual nor on that of society.
Esfeld makes a strong case for an ontology of science that is minimally sufficient to explain our scientific and common sense knowledge, not only removing theconcern that the laws of nature are incompatible with human freedom, but furthermore showing how our freedom is in fact a very presupposition for science.
ISBN: 9783030377731
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
189 pages
1st ed. 2020